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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hi everyone,

I’m excited to introduce myself as the new president of ASCLS-Illinois. I have been part of ASCLS for over six years, serving on the board as the recording secretary, and now I’m thrilled to take on this new role as President. 

I want to express my gratitude to Kristen Pesavento, Alysia (Cici) Gazder, and Nick Steder for their great work as former presidents. Their leadership was key in helping our society navigate and rebuild through the challenges of the pandemic. I’m also deeply grateful to our members of the board for dedicating their time to driving our society forward and creating valuable opportunities for our members.

My goal for the upcoming year is to foster a strong sense of community within our organization, where everyone feels welcome and valued. I want to create a space where members can collaborate, learn from one another, and develop their skills.

Together, we can support each other’s growth and work towards advancing our field. This is where you come in. Thank you for being a member of ASCLS-IL – your involvement is what makes our community stronger and vibrant. To get the most out of your membership, I encourage you to get involved by joining a committee, attending events, or sharing your insights. If you have ideas on activities, such as social events and continuing education feel free to share them via email!

This summer, I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), which brings together laboratorians from ASCLS, Association of genetic Technologists (AGT), and The Society of American Federal Medical Laboratory Scientists (SAFMLS). Having previously attended virtually, it was great to experience the conference in-person and interact with laboratorians from diverse backgrounds. The JAM is a great opportunity for professional development, as you can learn about the latest innovations and best practices, meet new people, and visit booths from biotechnology companies to see the latest technology. If you didn’t get the opportunity to make it to JAM, you are still able to access individual sessions for purchase online through the ASCLS website.

While all the sessions were excellent, some of my personal favorites are listed below:

• Searching for a Horcrux: A Microbiologist’s Role in Solving Foodborne Outbreaks
  Featuring Dr. Sarah Bergbower from ASCLS-IL
  
  
• Dual Perspectives: Alzheimer’s Disease from the Laboratory Clinical Trial Subject
  Featuring Michelle Campbell, a former ASCLS-IL member
  
  
• The Clinical Laboratory’s Role in Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis
  
  
• Cultivating Emotionally and Culturally Inclusive Laboratory Environments
  
  
• What’s in the Pill? Contaminations Versus Impurities in Medications and Food Products that Can Lead to Positive Drug Tests

In addition to the sessions, I got to meet with new faces as well as familiar faces from ASCLS-IL. It was great to connect with peers, collaborate and share professional support for each other. 

Looking ahead, we have a couple of exciting opportunities to get involved in the community that I’m looking forward to attending:

2024 Labvocate Symposium (September 30th -October 1) a.k.a. “Legislative Days”

Location: Alexandria, VA -or- Virtual

Description: The Legislative Symposium provides a great education on the how-to’s of lobbying. Attendees are coached on presentation techniques so they can effectively talk to their congressional representatives during their appointments. They are well received in the congressional offices. Attendees return home from Washington with first-hand knowledge of the political system in action and confidence that they make a difference. 

Diana’s comments: This is an excellent opportunity to advocate for the issues that directly affect us and our field. If you’re unfamiliar with advocacy, don’t worry – I felt the same way at my first meeting and found it to be a valuable and enjoyable experience! Plus, the Illinois society offers the Ellen McGill Memorial Scholarship, which is an opportunity for two awardees to have up to $750 of their travel expenses covered! For more details, go to the Illinois Society webpage (asclsil.org)
and select Scholarships> Ellen McGill Memorial Scholarship.

Laboratory Professionals Leadership Certificate Curriculum

Location: Virtual

Description: The curriculum encompasses a curated core of leadership topics for professionals preparing for first forays into leadership or for those early in their leadership experiences. As such, the courses do not require any prerequisite knowledge or prior preparation in leadership. The skills and knowledge acquired are applicable to the workplace, community groups, or professional societies. The certificate curriculum includes six courses:

• Visioning, Problem-solving and Decision Making - Key Skills for Laboratory Leaders
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills for Leaders
• Fundamentals of Leadership for Laboratory Professionals
• Leadership Ethics
• Leading with Professionalism
• Leading a Diverse and Inclusive Group
  
  

Diana’s comments: I enjoy learning about leadership and this course helps build essential skills valuable for anyone in or pursuing a leadership role. I have found that taking leadership courses has helped prepare me for professional advancement but also helped navigate situations outside of the workplace effectively. Finally, don’t forget to check out our Connect Community for the latest news, events, and resources. Feel free to reach out to us with any thoughts or suggestions.

Take care and have a lovely Fall!

Diana DeAvila

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PRESIDENT'S BIO

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS & SAVE THE DATE

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CASE STUDIES

Rush University Medical Center Case Study #1

By: Chealsey Geurkink, MS, MLS(ASCP) SBB

Demographics
Black Male with history significant for prostate cancer with metastatic spread to bone.

Patient Treatment History
One B positive unit (# W2040234) transfused at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) one week ago, and one O positive unit transfused a few weeks prior. No treatment history of Rh negative RBCs. 

Laboratory Testing

Discrepancy
Mixed-field (MF) flagged by automated gel method in forward with Anti-B and Anti-D. Anti-B MF explained by transfusion of group O cells. Anti-D MF unexplained in patient record. Debrief in blood bank to determine potential sources. Investigation noted below.

Investigation

Discrepancy resolved & reported

LIS Notes
Patient previously had unexplained mixed field reactivity with >D. Units that were transfused here received a full retype in test tube. Unit W2040234 was labeled as "B Positive", however in test tube, the unit types as "B Negative" Weak D Positive.

Takeaways

• Consider different factors such as patient, donor, and analytical elements when resolving discrepancies
• Debrief within blood bank to resolve discrepancies
• Notate the updates as they occur in LIS for reference

Rush University Medical Center Case Study #2

By: Chealsey Geurkink, MS, MLS(ASCP) SBB

Background
Initial molecular typing received from another hospital indicated the patient as RhD negative. Yet, when Rh typing was performed at RUMC, 2+ reactivity was observed with test tube methodology. This inconsistency led us to consult with our referring laboratory. Repeated molecular studies showed weak D positive, resolving the discrepancy between the initial molecular typing and our test tube findings. 

Serology & Laboratory Testing
Patient: Female recipient of RhIg (Anti-D, RhoGAM)

Results
Individuals with weak D type 1 RBCs are not considered to be at risk for production of allo anti-D. Patient should be considered Rh Positive for transfusion and not a candidate for RhIg. In this particular case, the patient was spared from receiving unnecessary RhIg, and the conservation of O- blood products was ensured for those truly in need of them.

1. This was a case that the referring laboratory used as a valuable learning experience.
   Upon discovering the discrepancy, the RUSH sample was retested at the referring laboratory using the same low-resolution assay, which confirmed the presence of the D antigen.
2. The sample from 2022 was pulled, filtered, and cleaned of impurities before being retested with the same assay. This test yielded weak D type 1 results.
3. The referring laboratory team deliberated over the unexpected D- results from the 2022 sample. It was observed that out of 35 distinct markers used to indicate RhD, only one showed a result, while the remaining 34 showed no significant findings. Initially, this was attributed to noise, considering the potential for bleed-through between the Rh system and RHCE system.
4. This incident led the referring laboratory team to conduct a thorough review of all patient samples previously categorized under 'noise'. During this review, another patient sample exhibiting similar characteristics was identified. Upon retesting, the results were found to be consistent with the initial reports.

Case Highlights

• This case highlights the clinical benefits of identifying patients as D+. It eliminates the necessity for RhIg and the need for specific Rh matching of blood products.
• This case further demonstrates that molecular reports are not infallible gold standards and should be interpreted with caution, rather than followed uncritically.

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MLS & MLT GRADUATES 2024

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CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2024!

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JAM 2024 PICTURES

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SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

ASCLS-IL offers two scholarships at the state level, the Ellen McGill Memorial Scholarship and the ASCLS-IL Future Leaders Scholarship. You can read more about these and other opportunities on our dedicated scholarship page!

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